Looks like a boy

Gordian III was about 13 years old when he became emperor in 238. Sometimes he really does look young. This coin is from 240, when he was about 15 years old.


Gordian III, 238-244.
27-26 mm. 11.04 grams.
Tarnished silver tetradrachm, minted at Antioch.
AYTOK K M ANT ΓOPΔIANOC CЄB
ΔHΜAP XЄΣOYCIAC
SC beneath

Prier 282. This variety, with eagle's head left and tail left, and Gordian's draped and cuirassed bust seen very slightly from the rear, is by far the most common. Of the 25 Gordian III varieties from Antioch, most have 1 to 11 recorded examples and the most common ones have 27, 47, 69, and 139--this one But, even among this variety, there are different dies and some are more expressive than others. This one captures his youth. It has the large head and undeveloped jaw of an adolescent.

Show us a coin of a young person who looks young on the coin.

 

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He would have been 14 to 22 or so here.

Demetrios II, FIRST REIGN
Mint: Perhaps Seleucia in Pieria
146 to 138 BC
Obvs: Diademed head of Demetrios II right within dotted border.
Revs: BAΣΙΛEΩΣ ΔHMHTPIOY in two lines on right, NIKATOPEΣ on left. Anchor, flukes upward. Lily/Lotus flower inner right.
AE 16x17mm, 3.90g
Ref: cf. SC 1928; HGC 9, 1008(R2)
Note: Unpublished with control mark unlisted. This mark only noted for drachms.

And perfect thread to introduce my daughter, she was born yesterday (3/4/20)

 

What a little jewel ! CONGRATULATIONS David .

 

Congratulations!!

 

Congratulations! A daughter is a treasure that no coin can buy!

Diadumenian was 10 years old when he got his portrait on this coin.
It's heartbreaking to think of the things the young emperors went through. I'm quite sure it wasn't the kids that craved for power. They probably just tried their best from what was expected of them.

 

Valentinian, I'm sure that's probably a fairly accurate portrait. Despite his tender age he was supposedly successful on the battlefield . Pictured below is a nice portrait Tet of Gordian III I sold years ago.

 

Cute baby...She looks very 'NEW'...Congrats.

Philip II..... 9 years old... AD247

 

She'll probably develop a fine patina over time, just like the rest of us.

Philip I looks older than 9 on that portrait, I think. And Octavian looks younger than 22 on this:

 

Congratulations. This brings up a question. I know there were several young boys who appeared on coins and a few babies that appeared on reverses with Fecunditas etc. but who was the youngest female to appear on the obverse on an ancient coin? I have not researched this but the one that comes to mind is Plautilla who was a teen when she married Caracalla in 202. The few daughters, like Didia Clara, were older. Who have I missed? Some sources say she bore a daughter (name unknown) in 204 which might explain the reverse of this Pietas with child.

 

Geta
Caesar, A.D. 198-209
Augustus, A.D. 209-212
Silver Denarius
Rome mint, A.D. 198-200
Obv: L SEPTIMIVS GETA CAES
Rev: SPES PVBLICA - Spes, advancing left, holding flower and raising skirt
RIC 4
18mm, 3.4g.

 

These two were struck 238-239 AD when Gordian was 13-14 years old


GORDIAN III
AR Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG, radiate, draped bust right
REVERSE: P M TR P II COS P P, Victory advancing left with wreath & palm
Struck at Rome, 239 AD
4.2g, 21mm
RIC 19, RSC 199

GORDIAN III
AR Antoninianus
OBVERSE: IMP CAES M ANT GORDIANVS AVG - Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right
REVERSE: IOVI CONSERVATORI - Jupiter standing left, holding thunderbolt and scepter; Gordian III to lower left
Struck at Rome, 238-239 AD
4.6g, 21mm
RIC 2, C 105

 

Orbiana was a teenager, @dougsmit :


Orbiana, AD 225-227.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 20.02 g, 28.6 mm, 12 h.
Rome, AD 225.
Obv: SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: CONCORDIA AVGVSTORVM S C, Severus Alexander, togate, standing right, holding scroll in left hand and clasping right hands with Orbiana, veiled and draped, standing left.
Refs: RIC 657; BMCRE 301; Cohen 6; RCV 8194; Banti 3.

 

James, That's a lovely portrait on the 2nd coin . I'm sure if that kid was alive today he'd be an avid video games player .

 

Nice coins. Valerian II was pretty young when he was on the throne - but I couldn't tell exactly how old after a quick online search. Maybe a teenager?




Not ancient, but definitely young - King Alfonso XII of Spain died while his wife was pregnant in 1885, making Alfonso XIII king right at birth 1886. His coins reflected this - a silver dollar (5 pestetas - 25 grams):



A year later, as a toddler:

 

Here's one of a young Valerian II...Small head of a boy who was probably about 10 years old.

 

No Licinius II yet?

 

Hey hey hey! @David@PCC , Congratulations to you and your Wife! She’s a cutie!

 

GORDIANUS III

RI Gordian III 238-244 CE AE As 25mm Hercules S-C

 

Licinius II


RI Licinius II 317-324 CE Folles Jupiter w Eagle sinister left Antioch

 

Some boyish-looking portraits on coins I have of Geta, Caracalla, Elagabalus, and Valerian II (all sellers' images):

Geta Caesar AR Denarius 202 AD. Obv. As young boy, bare-headed, draped & cuirassed bust right, P SEPT GETA CAES PONT/ Rev. Securitas seated left on throne with globe, SECVRIT IMPERII. RIC IV-1 20b, RSC III 183A, Sear RCV II 7200. 18 mm., 3.17 g.



Caracalla AR Denarius. Obv. Laureate, youthful draped bust right, ANTONINVS PIVS AVG/ Rev. Felicitas standing left holding caduceus & cornucopiae, FELICITAS AVGG. RIC IV-1 127, RSC III 64, Sear RCV II 6799, BMCRE 276. 19 mm., 3.2 g.



Elagabalus AR Denarius, 218-219 AD, Antioch Mint. Obv. Laureate draped bust right, no beard, ANTONINVS PIVS FEL AVG/Rev. Two standards between two legionary eagles, CONCORDIA MILIT. RIC IV-2 187, RSC III 15, Sear RCV II 7505 (ill. p. 602). 18 mm., 2.8 g.



Valerian II Caesar, Billon Antoninianus, 257-258 AD, Cologne Mint. Obv. Radiate draped bust right, VALERIANVS CAES/ Rev. Infant Jupiter seated right on goat Amalthea walking right, looking left, with right hand raised, left hand holding goat's horn, IOVI CRESCENTI. RIC V-1 3, RSC IV 26, Sear RCV III 10731 (ill.). 22 mm., 3.70 g.